NIGERIAN IDOL: Sther makes surprising return after eviction

Hope returned for evicted Wild Card contestant in the ongoing Nigerian Idol reality show, Esther Aritheshoma Monday, aka Sther, as she was brought back to the N7.5m race, courtesy of the judges’ lifeline.

The three celebrity judges; Darey ‘Art’ Alade, Yinka Davies and Dede Mabiaku, at the weekend, saved Sther, who was among the six previously evicted contestants. They’d used up their last window of opportunity to bring back any contestant on the show.

Show anchor, Illrymz announced the judges’ decision at the weekend amidst cheers and applause from the audience who had gathered inside the OMG Dream Studios for the third Gala Show in the Top 12 series.

Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu said she was surprised that the Judges saved the same contestant twice. Egwu said, “I am still stunned that the Judges saved Sther twice because they have never used their lifeline twice on a contestant. I am sure they see something promising in her.”

Responding to Egwu’s astonishment and the audience’s as well, Dede Mabiaku described the appearance of Sther as their joker in the competition. Dede said, “Bringing Sther back with our lifeline is the joker of Season 5 and we were thrilled with everybody’s reaction. Sther has been the most improved of all the contestants and we hope she will make this investment worthwhile.”

Alongside P.Scholes and Uloma, Sther had polled the least number of votes and was accordingly expected to exit the show, but for the lifeline from the judges which now guarantees her a chance to compete for the multi-million naira top prize.

Meanwhile, all the seven contestants are up for the next round of eviction through the public voting process to determine the eventual winner of the N7.5 million top spot cash prize as well as other multi-million naira juicy offers, chief among which include a recording deal with South Africa-based Universal Music label and a new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The seven took to the stage at the weekend on the theme Broadway week to showcase their craft in music and attempt to curry the favour of the voting public whose votes determine who gets evicted or not.

With the theme ‘Broadway Week’, the contestants’ performances featured solo renditions as well as duets accompanied with some theatrics.

EME First Lady, Niyola, who performed her break out single “Toh Bad” on the show, joining Darey, Yinka and Dede as a guest judge.

The battle for Top 5 spots commenced with Preye leading the Broadway appearances with ‘Summertime’ by Porgy and Bess to the admiration of the Judges. Thereafter, the Fuji master, K Peace took his performance some notches higher with a superlative rendition of the Lion King soundtrack, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and received a standing ovation from the studio audience after his performance. Dolu held the Judges and studio audience spellbound with her performance of Annie’s ‘Opportunity’ and guest judge, Niyola confessed that she was blown away with gusto performance.

It was however not a good night for Nex2, whose performance of ‘This is your City’ by Annie failed to cut it for the Judges who submitted that he made a wrong choice of song. However, Brenda lifted the mood by delivering a classic performance of Barelis’ ‘She Used to Be Mine’, which drew applauses from the studio audience and Judges, especially Yinka who said that Brenda pulled a nerve in her.

Classiq Tunez took off from where Brenda stopped and delivered a jaw-dropping Falsetto of ‘Tommorow’ after which, amidst tears, Sther wrapped up the night’s solo performances with an emotional delivery of Peter Pan’s ‘Do you remember’.